Engage PL, a group of Point Loma-based stakeholders exploring innovative ways to educate students in local K-12 schools, will host a panel discussion titled “A Tale of a Charter School” to educate teachers, parents, principals, staff and other interested community members about how one school made the conversion to a charter-school system.

The discussion and follow-up Q&A will feature Dr. Kevin Riley, executive director of Mueller Charter School and author of “The Lights of Milagro,” who will talk about the Mueller School’s journey to becoming a charter school, as well as the trials, tribulations and successes the school has experienced under charter school governance.

The free educational event will serve as the launch pad for community dialogue as Engage PL continues to explore various forms of school governance models that might best benefit Point Loma’s 10 cluster schools.

To join the conversation, RSVP at www.engagepl.com. The discussion will take place on Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Station Marriott Conference Center, located at 2592 Laning Road.

— Mariko LambSunset Cliffs erosion curbing workshops set

Point Loma residents are invited to attend a series of workshops to learn how to curb erosion caused by stormwater runoff along the scenic Sunset Cliffs Natural Park by modifying their landscaping to absorb more rain water.

The workshops, which organizers said are intended to be fun and engaging, will help preserve the blufftop park and public open space that make the Sunset Cliffs a uniquely beautiful asset for San Diego.

Last year, the park at Sunset Cliffs was named one of the top five disappearing places alongside Florida’s Everglades by Wanderlust. The San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has been working to preserve the local treasure, in part, through its Ocean Friendly Gardens program aimed at educating residents on what they can do to protect the bluffs from erosion.

Surfrider will begin its Ocean Friendly Gardens workshop series with a Basics course on Monday, Oct. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University, kicking off a three-part series on the economic, environmental and practical benefits of Ocean Friendly Gardens to homeowners and the community.

Other workshops:

• A Hands On Workshop (HOW) Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon (location to be announced, in the Sunset Cliffs area)

• A Garden Assistance Party (GAP) Jan. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (location to be announced, in the Sunset Cliffs area)

Participants can register at sandiego.surfrider.org. For more on the San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, visit surfridersd.org.

OB Pier Fishing Derby to lure young fishers

Children will have a chance to win prizes this weekend during the annual Kiwanis Fishing Derby at the Ocean Beach Pier.

The Ocean Beach Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the fun, which runs from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22. The Ocean Beach Recreation Center is co-sponsoring the contest.

The derby is open to youngsters up to age 12, and free bait and refreshments will be provided. Fishing gear should be brought or rented at the pier. No fishing licenses are required to participate.

Families are encouraged to fish together, but only fish caught by the children will be eligible for prizes, which include categories for: the most fish, smallest fish, biggest fish, ugliest fish and most unusual fish.

The Ocean Beach Kiwanis Club has served the community since 1928.

— Scott HopkinsPaddle race to benefit wounded warriors

Isle Surfboards will host “America’s Finest Paddle Race” at the NTC Channel at Liberty Station on Saturday, Sept. 22 in a fundraiser to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

The paddling event includes a one-mile “Fun Race,” a 3.5-mile sprint and a four-member relay race, as well as a Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Expo with paddle-sport-related vendor booths, afternoon SUP clinics, brand-board demonstrations and a raffle.

The event is open to all ages and all skill levels. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the first race starting at 9 a.m. The cost is $45 per person for the general public or $30 for military members. In the case of the relay teams, the fee is $10 per member and there must be at least one female paddler per team.

The NTC Channel is located at Farragut and Chauncey roads in Point Loma.

Pet owners of all types are invited to bring their furry, feathered, scaled or other companions for an annual “Blessing of the Animals” event next month at a local church.

St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church, located at 1371 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., will host the event Sat. Oct. 6 from 9 to 11 a.m.

All pet owners, regardless of religious beliefs, are encouraged to join in the continuation of an ancient tradition honoring St. Francis of Assisi, commonly regarded as the patron saint of animals.

As a new feature of the event, the San Diego Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will join the event to promote animal adoption activities. Local pet-care businesses will provide information about their services.

St. Peter’s by the Sea has been a part of the Ocean Beach community since 1946.

— Scott HopkinsSeveral PLHS classes seeking out classmates

Several classes from Point Loma High School are looking for classmates to attend reunions in upcoming months.

• The class of 1967, which meets annually, will celebrate its 45-year reunion on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Red Sails Inn on Shelter Island Dr. from 4 to 9 p.m. Contact MarcyinPV@yahoo.com.

• The class of 2002, meanwhile, is preparing for its 10-year reunion Sept. 29 in The Coronados Patio & Lounge within Petco Park downtown. The group will attend a 5:35 p.m. Padres game, followed by an after-party. Contact alumni leaders at pointers@pointerassocia-tion.org for more information.

• Meeting this month is the class of 1952 for its 60-year reunion on Sept. 21 at the San Diego Yacht Club. Contact pagopagogenie@cox.net.

• The class of 1962 will hold its 50-year reunion from Sept. 21-23 at Humphreys by the Bay and Half Moon Inn on Shelter Island. Contact Tenny or Bonnie (Carey) Awes at (619) 562-5479 or (619) 302-9246.

• The 40-year reunion of the class of 1972 is also slated from Sept. 21-23 at the Catamaran Hotel on Mission Bay. Contact Jan Percival at (858) 414-4715.

All PLHS alumni are encouraged to register or update their information at plhsalumni.org/registger.html to be updated on alumni news, events and reunion information.

— Scott HopkinsPeninsula Singers to launch fundraising drive

The popular Peninsula Singers are preparing to celebrate 10 years of thrilling the local community and venues with song and will be launching an 18-month fundraising campaign with two 4 p.m. performances on Saturday,

Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23.

The performances will be dubbed “Shakespeare: Soliloquies, Scenes, Swords and Songs,” and will take place in the beautiful private garden of the Mature family in Rancho Santa Fe.

The event was conceived by Peninsula Singers’ members Victoria Mature (soprano) and Vanessa Dinning (alto, who also serves as the Peninsula Singers board president).

The cast boasts performers from San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, Poor Players, Pasadena Playhouse, San Diego Symphony, Orchestra Nova and London’s Royal National Theatre. Scenes from Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Hamlet, Othello and more are featured, along with live music and original pieces.

All proceeds from the event go to help the choir’s overall fundraising efforts to ensure that every singer is able to take part in Peninsula Singers’ 10-year anniversary celebratory tour.

All tickets are $50 and can be purchased by emailing president@peninsulasingerssandiego.org or by calling Vanessa at (619) 246-8735.

For more information, visit www.shakespeareinthegarden.com. For information about the Peninsula Singers, visit www.peninsulasingerssandiego.org.